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At the 133rd Convocation ceremony Tuesday, President Richard Saller welcomed new students to the community and urged them to grasp the possibilities that lay ahead.

“My main advice for you this afternoon … is to have the self-confidence to seek out the opportunities offered by Stanford that will contribute to your own personal fulfillment,” he said.

Convocation is an annual gathering to formally inaugurate the new academic year and is one of the signature events of New Student Orientation, or NSO. The celebration took place at Frost Amphitheatre and convened thousands of new undergraduate students, their families, friends, and other members of the campus community.

The event opened with a formal procession, followed by an invocation delivered by Rev. Dr. Tiffany Steinwert, dean for religious & spiritual life, and a land acknowledgment delivered by Antonio Vega, ’26, who is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. The program included a benediction, as well as performances by carillonist Timothy Zerlang, the Bay Brass Quintet, and Hail, Stanford, Hail! by students Alexandra Breschini, ’26, and Akshar Sarvesh, ’25.

President Richard Saller welcomed new students to the community during the 133rd Convocation ceremony. (Image credit: Don Feria)

Presidential welcome

Saller is a scholar of Roman history who has previously served in several academic leadership roles at Stanford. Tuesday’s Convocation ceremony marked his first since assuming the presidency on Sept. 1.

“You and I, in my first month as president, are getting off to a start in a new adventure,” he said to new students, urging them to remain open to the unknown.

“Whatever major you choose, use your four years at Stanford to explore new fields of knowledge and diverse experiences,” said Saller, who is also the Kleinheinz Family Professor of European Studies and professor of classics in the School of Humanities and Sciences. “You may not again have the unsurpassed intellectual resources and the community that this university will offer you.”

He advised students to have confidence in their own agency and potential by seeking out the resources and support available to them.

“Don’t be shy about approaching the faculty and staff about your interests and concerns,” he advised. “They will be happy to help.”

Saller recalled that 12 years ago he helped organize a one-month summer seminar on campus for 25 students from the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. Four of those students later transferred to Stanford and used the opportunity to launch successful careers in environmental science, literature, clinical psychology, and government. Their stories, he said, are models for what students can do with a Stanford education.

“You should pursue your own personal path to goals that you find rewarding. Don’t let others define your hopes and dreams, and do expect setbacks along the way,” he said.

Saller noted the diverse community new students are entering and encouraged civil discourse. He also emphasized the importance of service and encouraged them to consider the opportunities available through the Haas Center for Public Service and Cardinal Quarter. He also advised students to take care of themselves.

“Find time to expand your horizons, have some fun with friends, get in regular workouts, and get enough sleep,” he said.

Lastly, Saller, an avid cyclist, asked students to be safe.

“[My] final bit of personal advice: wear a bicycle helmet as you speed around campus on a bicycle or motor scooter,” he said.

Community and understanding

In her remarks, Sarah Church, vice provost for undergraduate education, called on students to venture through the next few years with a sense of community.

“Look out for one another – be there when your new Stanford friends reach out for support and help guide each other to important resources. That’s the very definition of community,” she said, adding that Stanford is not a place in which students need to change who they are to fit in. “You arrived here simply by being you.”

Church noted that a liberal education invites students to define and strengthen their passions and convictions, while also encouraging them to understand the perspectives of others.

“Learning to listen thoughtfully is as important a skill as any other you’ll learn here,” she said. “I encourage you to embrace the opportunity to get comfortable with occasionally being uncomfortable. Because doing so will help you learn and grow immeasurably.”

The celebration also included remarks from Richard H. Shaw, dean of undergraduate admission & financial aid, who shared statistics for the new class. Mona Hicks, senior associate vice provost & dean of students, told students they need only to be excellent at learning, urged them to practice gratitude, and assured them that they belong at Stanford.

Johan Sotelo, ’25, delivers the student address during the 133rd Convocation at Stanford University, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (Image credit: Don Feria)

Embracing uncertainty

Stanford junior Johan Sotelo delivered the Convocation student address, during which he expressed empathy for new students and the mixture of emotions many are feeling in their first days at Stanford. He called on them to embrace the uncertainty.

“Stanford is a place where you’ll not only encounter the unknown but thrive in it,” Sotelo said.

He recalled the intimidation he felt his first year as the only frosh enrolled in a data science course, and his reluctance to seek help. But instead of feeling discouraged, he leaned into the experience and embraced the opportunity to challenge himself and approach his professor, from whom he learned much about the course material and other topics.

“This experience affirmed what I’ve come to understand about Stanford faculty: they don’t just teach here; they guide, mentor, and inspire,” he said. “Take advantage of that.”

Sotelo reflected on studying abroad in Madrid, Spain – an experience that pushed him outside of his comfort zone to learn to be flexible and open-minded.

“Many of you will find yourselves adapting to a whole new culture and way of life here at Stanford,” he said. “Give yourself time to adjust to Stanford, and I know you will find your footing here, and even come to cherish the little things that make Stanford special.”

Finally, Sotelo urged students to accept all that the Stanford community has to offer.

“Stanford is a mosaic of experiences, opportunities, and memories waiting to be made,” he said. “Lean into the unfamiliar. Welcome the challenge. Embrace the uncertainty. And know that in doing so, you’re not only crafting your own unique Stanford narrative but also embarking on a journey of personal growth.”

By the numbers

As of Tuesday, there were 1,705 first-year students and 58 transfer students matriculating at Stanford. They come from 49 states and 76 countries. International students account for 13.5 percent of this new cohort. A total of 88 unique languages other than English are spoken in the homes of new students.

First-year students attended 1,242 secondary schools. Transfer students are joining Stanford from 55 colleges and universities, including 23 community colleges, in 22 states.

Twenty-one percent of new undergraduate students are among the first in their families to attend a four-year university, and nine are military veterans.